Local anti-bullying campaign goes global

CAMPAIGN Signposting for Improved Mental Health

‘Be Buddies Not Bullies’ has made a global impact according to organiser Chloe Heaslip.

The anti-bullying campaign was set up by the family and friends of the late Eden Heaslip, following his death by suicide in September 2021.

Nearly one month ago, with an upcoming meeting with the Minister of State for Mental Health, Mary Butler, Chloe gave a shout out on Facebook to see how far the campaign had reached.

Pictures of campaign stickers poured in from Donegal to Cork and beyond the seas to Australia, Spain, California, Portugal, Italy, New Zealand and Sweden among others.

“It’s not just Cavan and Monaghan that are suffering with bullying or mental health, it’s everywhere,” Eden’s sister Chloe said of the campaign.

She described the response to the post as morale boosting.

“This little idea that Leanne Coyle made up... It’s travelled so far,” she said of the car stickers.

“We never expected it, it’s just crazy.”

She wanted to show the minister that bullying and mental health affects people from all over the world.

During the meeting, the importance of signposting was highlighted, with the issue of supports being available but people not knowing about them or being too afraid to avail of them. The minister created leaflets for various organisations, which people can reach out to, however Chloe noted that none of them dealt with bullying specifically.

“Some of these do mention bullying but it’s not widely known about,” she said.

“We were asking for better signposting to these,” she said, explaining that as a primary school teacher she had never seen the leaflet before.

“I have a full box of them in the car and I’m going to be going into schools and bringing them with me to make teachers, students, everyone aware that these are here.”

“That’s the plan,” she explained.

Chloe has been to GAA clubs, schools, universities, trainee teaching colleges and workplaces all over Ireland to tell Eden’s story, inform people about Coco’s law which criminalises non-consensual sharing of intimate images online and outline resources available for those who need help.

“Every talk is different,” she explained.

Chloe gave one example of going to a school and speaking about how “words can hurt”.

That evening Chloe received a message from a parent saying that her daughter had been bullied. Following Chloe’s talk, the bully recognised they had done wrong and apologised.

“Helping one person, it just means the world to us, and it hasn’t just been one,” she said delightedly.

Cinnealtas

Cinnealtas is Ireland’s new anti-bullying legislation and those behind the ‘Be Buddies Not Bullies’ campaign are proud to have been involved during the planning stages.

Last February, Chloe spoke to government ministers about her own experiences in education and her brother Eden’s story.

The legislation sets out guidelines to tackle bullying.

“One of the main ones is that student teachers now have to do a course on mental health and how to recognise bullying, which I think is really important,” said Chloe, explaining that it also provides a range of classroom support.

The plan will be implemented in schools on a phased basis in September.

“It’s not going to cure everything overnight, it’s not going to happen overnight but it’s being brought in,” Chloe said.

The plan even lays out guidelines for new school buildings, including recommendations that bathrooms are not placed at the end of a hall where bullying could take place.

“I think it’s really important, it hadn’t been updated since 2013.”

Asked about her motives for campaigning for improved mental health services and anti-bullying legislation, Chloe said it is to “make sure that Eden’s name is never forgotten about.”

“There’s no point in being angry, I would rather put my energy into something that helps other people.”

“It keeps us going, it keeps my mental health as strong as it can be.”